Yarn feeding means for knitting machines

ABSTRACT

Yarn feeding apparatus for drawing off a plurality of yarns from their cones and feeding the same to the needles of a multiple feed circular knitting machine at the feeds thereof comprising a plurality of circumferentially spaced first roller s rotated by an endless tape trained thereover with the latter driven by the knitting machine in adjustable timed relation therewith, second rollers of larger diameter than the first rollers and positioned atop thereof to rotate therewith, and means to guide the yarns around the second rollers for one or more turns, then (1) to guide the yarns to and between the tape and the first rollers and away therefrom to the needles, or then (2) to guide the yarns around the first rollers for one or more turns in spaced relation to the tape thereon, the first and second rollers acting as winches, under certain conditions, upon the one or more turns of the yarns thereon.

United States Patent Pernick 14 1 Mar. 28, 1972 [54] YARN FEEDING MEANSFOR 1,521,119 3/1968 France ..66/132 T KNITTING MACHINES 318,667 12/1969Sweden ..66/ 132 [72] Inventor: David Pernick, 1020 Shore Boulevard,Primary Examiner RobenR Macke 3' Brooklyn 1 1235 Attorney-Nathan Levin[22] Filed: Jan. 9, 1970 a [52] U.S. Cl ..66/l32 T, 242/47.0l

[51] Int. Cl. ..D04b 15/48 [58] Field of Search ..66/l32, 132 T;242/4701 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 393,189 11/1888Stowe ..66/l32 ux 3,090,215 5/1963 Rosen ..66/132 3,225,446 12/1965Sarfati et a1. .242/47.0l X

3,361,317 1/1968 Levin ..66/l32 X 3,490,710 1/1970 Muhlhausler .66/l 32X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 236,574 10/1964 Austria ..66/l32 Appl.No.: 878,443

[5 7] ABSTRACT Yarn feeding apparatus for drawing off a plurality ofyarns from their cones and feeding the same to the needles of a multiplefeed circular knitting machine at the feeds thereof comprising aplurality of circumferentially spaced first roller 5 rotated by anendless tape trained thereover with the latter driven by the knittingmachine in adjustable timed relation therewith, second rollers of largerdiameter than the first rollers and positioned atop thereof to rotatetherewith, and means to guide the yarns around the second rollers forone or more turns, then (1) to guide the yams to and between the tapeand the first rollers and away therefrom to the needles, or then (2) toguide the yarns around the first rollers for one or more turns in spacedrelation to the tape thereon, the first and second rollers acting aswinches, under certain conditions, upon the one or more turns of theyarns thereon.

3 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTEDMARM 1972 3,651,668

sum 1 OF 2 lA/VENTOR DA V! D PERN/CK PATENTED MR 2 8 1972 SHEET 2 OF 2 mM w W DA VID FERN/CK A 7'TORNE Y YARN FEEDING MEANS FOR KNITTINGMACHINES The present invention relates generally to the art of knittingand more particularly to an improvement in tape and roller yarn feedingapparatus used on multiple feed knitting machines to draw off yarns fromtheir cones to feed the same to the needles of the machine at the feedsthereof.

The conventional tape and roller feeding apparatus presently used in theknitting art for the drawing off of yarns from their cones and feedingthe same at a uniformly fixed rate of yarn travel to the needles at theseveral feeds of multiple feed knitting machines, as disclosed in theUS. Pat. No. 3,090,215, issued May 21, 1963 to Rosen, is generallysatisfactory for the knitting of relatively non-patterned fabrics solong as no undue amount of tension is present in the yarns between theircones and the tape and rollers. While such undue tension may be theresult of other factors also, it most frequently occurs from excess dragupon the yarn while it is being drawn off from an improperly wound conethereof. When there is such undue tension present, even for a relativelyshort period of time, if there is no provision made to take care of thesame, it will cause the yarn to slip relative to the feeding action ofits tape and roller so that an insufficient amount of yarn, which is nowexcessively tensioned, is being provided for the needles with the resultthat the yarn breaks at some point between the needles and the tape androller, generally at the needle line. Such yarn breakage usually resultsin undesirable press off of the fabric from the needles of the machine.2

The above referred to conventional tape and roller yarn feedingapparatus has never been satisfactory for the knitting of patternedfabrics for the reason that in the making of such fabrics the yarn istaken by the needles at each feed of the machine at a variable rate ofyarn travel (which in itself is generally different at different feeds)depending upon the varying pattern-required number of needles which actto take, to tuck or to knit the yarn at such feed during each ofsuccessive revolutions of the machine.

It is therefore the principal object of the present invention toovercome the above set forth limitations of the conventional tape androller yarn feeding apparatus by the provision ofa twofold improvementin the same whereby such apparatus will be satisfactory for use in theknitting of patterned fabrics and whereby such apparatus, in theknitting of non-patterned fabrics, will effectively compensate for thepresence of an undue amount of tension in the yarns being fed thereby toprevent breakage thereof.

It is an important object of the present invention to provide animprovement in the tape and roller type of yarn feeding apparatus whichcomprises the positioning of an additional roller atop each of theconventional rollers to rotate therewith, and to provide means to guidethe yarns to make one or a plurality of turns thereof around theadditional rollers and then to guide the yarns to and between the tapeand conventional rollers and therefrom to the needles whereby when theyarns become sufficiently excessively tensioned to grip the surface ofthe additional rollers the latter will temporarily act as winches uponthe yarns to draw the same off their cones to thereby relieve the excesstension therein.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide means to guidethe yarns to make one or more turns thereof around the above set forthadditional rollers, then to guide the yarns to make one or more turnsthereof around the conventional rollers in spaced relation to and freeof the tape thereon, and then to guide the yarns to the needles wherebywhen the yarns become sufficiently tensioned to grip the surfaces of theadditional and conventional rollers the latter rollers will temporarilyact as compound winches upon the yarns to draw the same from theircones.

With the above and other objects in view which will become apparent fromthe following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of theinvention shown in the accompanying drawings, the present inventionresides in the novel elements of construction, combination of parts andmethod of operation of the yarn feeding means illustrated and ashereinafter particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of part of a multiple feed revolvingcylinder type of circular knitting machine showing a conventional tapeand roller yarn feeding apparatus therefor and also showing the winchassist yarn feeding roller cylinders of the present invention positionedatop the rollers of the yarn feeding apparatus;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view, partly broken away, showing in planthe machine and associated parts of FIG. 1 as taken on line 2-2 thereofin which the tape is shown as being driven from a machine driven pulley;

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view, partly broken away, showing the yarnfeeding apparatus at each feed of the machine including the tape,roller, a relatively short cylinder or second roller atop theconventional roller and yarn guides to direct yarn around the cylinderand to and between the tape and roller;

FIG. 4 is a plan view, partly broken away, showing the yarn feed rollerand associated parts of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 3 wherein the yarn is directed aroundthe cylinder and also around the lower portion of the roller at whichplace the yarn is positioned below and is free of contact with the tape.

A preferred form of the yarn feeding means of the present invention isshown in FIGS. 1 through 5 wherein it is applied to a multiple feedrevolving cylinder type of circular knitting machine, although it shouldbe understood that the invention is not so limited and may also be usedwith any other of the conventional types of knitting machines.

In FIG. 3 the yarn is arranged on the present apparatus so that it isfirst wrapped around the cylinder for one or more turns and then extendsbetween the tape and roller to be fed thereby, this arrangement beingpreferred when a uniformly fixed rate of yarn travel is desired as whenrelatively non-patterned fabric is being produced. While in FIG. 5 theyarn is arranged on the present apparatus so that it is first wrappedaround the cylinder for one or more turns and is then also wrappedaround the roller for one or more turns, free of and spaced from thetape, this arrangement being preferred when the rate of yarn travel tothe needles is relatively nonuniform as when patterned fabric is beingproduced in which case the yarn travel is dependent upon the patternbeing knitted by the needles of the machine.

As shown in FIG. 1, a driven bevel-gear 10 engages with and drives alarge bevel ring gear 11 to rotate the needle cylinder of the machinewithin its cam ring 12. Bevel gears 13, 13, one rotating with bevel gear10 and the other fixed on the lower end of a suitably journaled uprightshaft 14, act to drive the latter and a chain sprocket 15 fixed on itsupper end. By means of an endless chain 16 trained about sprocket 15 andarranged around a chain sprocket 17 fixed on the lower end of a suitablyjournaled upright shaft 18, the chain 16 drives the shaft 18 and anadjustable diameter pulley 19 fixed to the upper end of shaft 18. Thepulley 19, which may be of the type disclosed in the United Statespatent to Rosen, US. Pat. No. 3,243,091, issued Mar. 29, 1966, is usedto drive an endless flexible tape 20 at desirably regulated speeds intimed relation to the speed of the machine, the tape being trained aboutthe pulley 19 and over a plurality of smooth surfaced rollers 21 equallyspaced about the circumference of the machine, FIG. 2, to drive therollers, the arrangement comprising the conventional tape and rolleryarn feeding system disclosed in the said Rosen patents.

Each of the rollers 21, FIG. 3, is provided with a relatively shortsmooth surfaced cylinder or second roller 22 suitably secured to the topthereof, the cylinders 22 preferably being of larger diameter than thediameter of the rollers 21 and being axially aligned therewith. Eachcylinder 22, of approximately the same axial length as roller 21 and ofsuitable material, such as metal or plastic, is hollow and has a shell22a and a bottom 22b in contact with the upper face of roller 21 towhich the cylinder may be secured by means of a pair of screws 23, 23extending upwardly through roller 21 into threaded engagement withsuitably formed apertures in the bottom 22b. Each roller 21 and cylinder22 has a spaced pair of vertically extending yarn guides 24 and 25associated therewith for the purpose of directing yarn thereto and tothe needles of the machine.

The machine, FIG. 1, is provided with four equally spaced uprights 26set in its base to support a yoke 27 at their upper ends. This yoke, inturn, supports acentral upright rod 28 to which is secured anintermediate level yarn guide ring 29 and an upper level ring 30 havinga series of arms 31 radiating therefrom and upon the ends of which aresecured a like series of conventional stop motions 32. These stopmotions are of the usual type which may be actuated to stop the machinein the event that a yarn end runs out through the same or in the eventthat an undue amount of excess tension develops in the yarn passingtherethrough and which causes the yarn to be pulled from the stopmotion, the stop motions being adjustable to preset the same for theamount of excess yarn tension which will cause them to be actuated tostop the machine.

Below the yoke 27 there is a horizontally disposed annularly shaped ring33 which surrounds and is suitably supported by the uprights 26. Aseries of circumferentially spaced radiating arms 34, fastened at theirinner ends to the upper face of ring 33, provide support at their outerends for a like series of yarn cones 35. A similarly disposed series ofarms 36, fastened at their inner ends to the lower face of ring 33,provides support at their outer ends for the rollers 21, cylinders 22and the yarn guides 24 and 25. A plate 37, secured to one pair ofuprights 26, FIG. 2, provides a base upon which the shaft 18 isjournaled while an extension 38 of the plate 37 provides a bearingsupport for the upper end of the shaft 14. Also disposed upon the plate37 is a pivotally mounted lever 39 having an idler roller 40 at one endthereof which yieldingly engages the tape 20 to tension the same, theroller being urged toward the tape 20 by a spring 41 suitably attachedto the other end of the lever 39 and to the plate 37.

Each roller 21, with a cylinder 22 atop thereof, and arms 24a and 250from which its guides 24 and 25 project downwardly, are affixed to theend of each arm 36, FIG. 3, by means of a suitable shoulder screw 42extending upwardly through suitable apertures in the roller 21, thecylinder 22 as at 22c and the inner ends of arms 24a and 2511 intothreaded engagement with the arm 36, the roller 21 and cylinder 22 beingfree to rotate upon the shoulder screw 42 while the inner ends of thearms 24a and 25a are fixedly held in suitable angularly adjustedpositions between the screw 42 and the arm 36. The guide 24 is providedwith a pair ofspaced yarn guiding orifices 24b and 24c positionedlaterally of cylinder 22 and the guides 24 and 25 are provided withpairs of spaced yarn guiding orifices 24d and 242 and 25b and 25c,respectively, positioned laterally of the roller 21. The direction ofrotation of pulley 19 is such that the tape 20 is caused to move incounterclockwise direction, FIG. 2, with the result that the rollers 21and cylinders 22 also rotate in the same direction, FIG. 3.

The yarn Y may be arranged in either of two ways on the presentapparatus, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, depending upon how the yarn is tobe fed to the needles for the type of fabric being knit. When relativelyplain non-patterned fabric is to be knit and a uniformly fixed rate ofyarn travel is desired, the arrangement of FIG. 3 is used, in which theyarn Y from each cone thereof extends upwardly to pass through a stopmotion 32, then downwardly through guide ring 29, then through orifice24b of guide 24 to make one turn or a plurality of turns of the yarn, asdesired, around the surface of cylinder 22 in the direction of itstravel, FIG. 4, and then passes through orifice 240 of guide 24. Thenthe yarn extends along the guide 24 to orifice 24d through which itpasses and then extends to and between roller 21 and tape 20 to passthrough orifice 25b of guide 25 on its way to the needles of the machineduring which it may pass through a second conventional stop motionpositioned between the roller 21 and the needles. When relativelypatterned fabric is to be knit and the needles themselves which make thepattern determine the desired rate of yarn feed, the arrangement of FIG.5 is used and in which the arrangement differs from that of FIG. 3 inthat after the yarn Y passes through orifice 240 of guide 24, it extendsdownwardly thereof to the orifice 24e through which it passes to makeone turn or a plurality of turns of the yarn, as desired, around thesurface of the roller 21 in the direction of its travel free of and inspaced relation to the tape on roller 21 and then passes through orifice25c of guide 25 on its way to the needles of the machine. The tape 20still continues to rotate the rollers 21 and cylinders 22. It may benoted that in FIG. 3 the yarn Y is between roller 21 and tape 20 whereasin FIG. 5 the yarn Y does not come into contact with the tape 20.

When the yarn Y is being fed according to the arrangement of FIG. 3, itis normally drawn off from its cone by the action of rotating roller 21and moving tape 20 and fed to the needles. So long as there is no undueamount of excess tension in the yarn Y, the latter moves upon the smoothsurface of rotating cylinder 22 without being fed thereby as it travelsto the tape 20 and roller 21, even though the peripheral speed ofcylinder 22 is greater than that of roller 21. Should there be asufficient amount of excess tension in the yarn Y, as may be the resultof a temporary condition, such as drag on the yarn as it is beingunwound off of an improperly wound cone, the yarn will tighten aroundthe cylinder 22 and the latter will act as a winch to pull the yarn inresponse to the grip of the yarn upon its rotating surface, such pullwill act to draw off the yarn from its cone for the time that the dragthereon continues, which may be relatively short, afterwhich the excesstension in the yarn Y is dissipated and normal feeding of the yarncontinues. Were it not for the above winch assisting action of thecylinder 22 when excess tension develops in the yarn Y, the latter, byreason of the excess tension therein, could slip relative to the tape 20and roller 21 so that an insufficient amount of yarn would be fed inexcessively tensioned condition with the result that breakage of theyarn could occur at such a point between tape and roller and the needlesas would cause an undesirable press off of the fabric from the needlesof the machine.

When the yarn Y is being fed to the needles for the knitting ofpatterned fabric, the rate of yarn feed will be nonuniform at each feedand will depend upon the number of patternselected needles taking theyarn, the latter, in turn, will depend upon the particular portions ofthe pattern being knit. Accordingly, the yarn cannot be drawn off itscone and fed at a uniform fixed rate of yarn travel and yet it isdesirable to draw off the yarn from its cone and have it ready to be fedto the pattern-selected needles as required by them and for this purposethe arrangement of FIG. 5 is used. As the yarn is variably taken by theneedles it is caused to be accordingly tightened around the rotatingroller 21 and then the rotating cylinder 22 with the result that thesetwo rotating members serve as winchies upon the yarn Y to draw the sameoff its cone so that it can be fed to the needles without undue tensiontherein. The winch action will take place only for such time as there issufficient tension in the yarn to sufficiently grip the roller 21 andthe cylinder 22, such tension may be the result of the needles takingthe yarn and drawing off the yarn from the cone and/or from theunwinding of the yarn from an improperly wound cone. The winch actionmay be on and off in relatively short time periods in response to theaction of the pattern of the needles at each of the feeds. It will benoted that the peripheral speed of the rotating roller 21 and cylinder22 is different and it has been found that the compound action of thesetwo winches, each acting upon the yarn at a different linear speed,gives much better results, in drawing off the yarn, than does the actionof a single winch.

The present apparatus, in addition to its usefulness when the yarn conesare positioned upon the machine itself, is also of particular usefulnesswhen the cones are arranged in a creel adjacent to the machine, in whicharrangement the yarns travel a greater distance from cones to needlesand in which it is desirable to have assistance of the winch 22 alone orthe winches 21 and 22 together in drawing off the yarns from theircones.

While the description, for the purpose of clarity, has referred to themember 21 as a roller and to the member 22 as a cylinder" instead ofreferring to each of them as a roller," which they are, it should benoted that the two members 21 and 22 may be considered as a roller, as aroller having first and second sections and as a roller having first andsecond sections of different diameters, and such designations are usedin certain of the claims. It is pointed out that the roller 21 and thecylinder 22 may be of integral formation and that the invention is notlimited to these two members being of different diameters.

I claim:

1. Yarn feeding apparatus for a multi-feed knitting machine to draw offa plurality of yarns from their cones and to feed the same to theneedles of said machine at the feeds thereof, comprising a plurality ofrollers adapted to be rotated, each of said rollers having a first and asecond section of which said second section is of larger diameter thansaid first section, an endless tape driven by said machine in timedrelation therewith and trained over said first sections of said rollersto rotate the same and means to guide said yarns around said secondsections and around said first sections of said rollers and to guidesaid yarns to said needles.

2. Apparatus as in claim I wherein said means to guide said yarnsincludes threading means for directing said yarns to and between saidtape and said first sections of said rollers and away therefrom.

3. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said means to guide said yarnsincludes threading means for directing said yarns around said firstsections of said rollers in spaced relation to said tape thereon andaway therefrom.

1. Yarn feeding apparatus for a multi-feed knitting machine to draw offa plurality of yarns from their cones and to feed the same to theneedles of said machine at the feeds thereof, comprising a plurality ofrollers adapted to be rotated, each of said rollers having a first and asecond sectiOn of which said second section is of larger diameter thansaid first section, an endless tape driven by said machine in timedrelation therewith and trained over said first sections of said rollersto rotate the same and means to guide said yarns around said secondsections and around said first sections of said rollers and to guidesaid yarns to said needles.
 2. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein saidmeans to guide said yarns includes threading means for directing saidyarns to and between said tape and said first sections of said rollersand away therefrom.
 3. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said means toguide said yarns includes threading means for directing said yarnsaround said first sections of said rollers in spaced relation to saidtape thereon and away therefrom.